218 
THE TOBACCO QUESTION. 
nations; it has caused the governmental evils of Turkey ; it 
ruins young men; pauperises working men; counterworks 
the ministers of religion ; and renders the old women in 
Ireland troublesome to the dispensary doctors. 
“ Against these accusations the defence pleads generally, 
thus : That the accusers are arguing against the effects of the 
abuse , and not of the use, of tobacco ; that every gift under 
heaven may, by the perversity of man, be turned from a 
blessing to a curse ; that the use of tobacco is widely spread, 
more widely than any one custom, form of worship, or reli- 
gious belief, and that therefore it must have some good or at 
least pleasurable effects ; that if its evil effects were so dread- 
ful as stated, the human race would have ceased to exist ; 
that Christison says, ‘No well-ascertained ill effects have 
been shown to result from smoking ; 5 that Pereira observes, 
‘ It produces that remarkable soothing and tranquillising 
effect which has made it so popular/ 
“ Against the particular accusations, the defence argues : 
that smoking does not cause insanity, for more women are 
insane than men ; that, on the contrary, it is a useful sedative 
in cases of insanity; that inability to think consecutively, 
whilst smoking, is disproved by the fact that Hobbes always 
smoked while writing: that as many great men have been 
smokers as non-smokers ; that tobacco soothes mental and 
nervous irritability consequent upon exhaustion, and lulls the 
pain of neuralgia. That it is useful in the dyspnoea from 
congestion of the lungs, when the premonitions of phthisis 
threaten ; that it lessens irregularity and rapidity of cir- 
culation from over-fatigue; that it aids digestion after a full 
meal; removes head-aches and uneasiness about the stomach, 
is useful as a laxative, is an excellent sedative in gastric and 
pharyngeal irritations. 
“ The effects on the generative system are said by the 
defenders never to be stimulating, but depressing in exact 
proportion in amount and duration to the quantity smoked ; 
and that such effects are of value in these days of late mar- 
riages and forced celibacy. That moderate indulgence is fol- 
lowed by increase of weight ; that it counteracts the effects of 
physical exhaustion ; that Boecker lias proved it to retard the 
waste of the body. That it is the luxury of the rich ; but to 
the poor the solace of life.” 
These are the assertions on either side : it is for our 
readers to estimate their value. They will judge how far the 
zeal, with which the accusers of tobacco have been fired, may 
have led them to attribute to its use more effects than can be 
produced by any one cause, and whether the diseases of the 
